Hybrid electrical switch



Oct. 8, 1929. J. R. L. GREEN 1,730,764

HYBRID ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed March 3, 1927 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wm Jeromekk reeq Oct. 8, 1929. J. R. L. GREEN HYBRID ELECTRICAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3, 1927 Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JEROME R. L. GREEN, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA HYBRID ELECTRICAL swrrcn Application filed March 3, 1927. Serial No. 172.450.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electric switches, either of single or multiple phase type and bearing particular reference to an electric switch wherein fuses are employed, has for consists in the novel form, combination and "arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter more fully described,

shown in the claimed. a I

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding .parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a switchbox with the hinged cover wall thereof partly broken away to show the insulating plate hingedly supported witlnn the cas ng with cartridge fuses upon the inner face thereof that bridge thecontacts; I Figure 2 is a front elevational View of the accompanying drawings and switch box with the 'coyer in open position,-

the insulating plate being moved upon its hinged mounting for displacing the cartridge fuses from engagement with the contacts; Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, similar to Figure 3, showing the switch in its open position with the cartridge fuse functioning" as a switch blade;

Figure 5 isa top plan view of the insulating plate that carries the cartridge fuses;

Flgure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the switch box showing the screw plug fuses carried by and movable with the plate that carries a switch blade; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an angle limitstrip for one end of the cartridge fuse.

and 13 The switch box may be of any preferred design and the same is illustrated as being of rectangular formation and comprising a rear wall 1, side wall 2, a top wall 3, a bottom wall 4 and a front door 5 that is hinged at 6 to the lower forward edge of the bottom wall 4:. A sliding catch 7 carried by the free swinging upper edge of the door 5 engages a keeper carried by the top wall 3.

A. comparatively large insulating plate 8 is secured by the fastening devices 9 to the inner face'of the rear wall 1 of the switch box and a plurality of switch terminals 10 secured to the upper end of the insulating plate 8 are aligned with the switch terminals 11 carried by the lower end of the insulating plate, the switch terminals 10 and 11 as shown in Figures 2 to 4 being of the spring finger type and being in circuit with a source .of electric energy with the circuit broken betweem the respectively aligned upper and lower terminals 10 and 11.

The primary object of the invention being to bridge the aligned switch terminals 10 and 11 by a fuse carried by a swingingly mounted insulated plate so that in order to attain access to the fuses for repair, replacement or the like, itis first necessary to move the swingingly mounted insulating plate to displace the fuses from the switch terminals, and to ac complish this result, there is provided a pivotally supported frame comprising bearing ends 12 and 13 journaled in bearing blocks 14 set into the side walls 2 of the switch box adjacent the lower ends thereof,

the inner ends of the bearing portions-12 and 13 being right-angularly extending arms 15 connected by a cross-arm 16. The outer end when the handle 17 is moved, the frame structure within the switch box comprising the arms 15 and 16 are moved in similar directions. The arms 15 adjacent the bearings 12- are connected by the brace bar 18 that is made integral or rigid therewith.

The pivotally mounted frame within the switch box carries the insulating plate 19 upon which the fuses, for bridging the switch terminals 10 andll are mounted. The in-- sulating plate 19 is secured to the frame by the i fastening devices 20 extending through the insulating plate and the brace bar 18 while staples 21 inolosing the cr as arm 16 pass through the insulating plate 19 and receive nuts 22 upon the inner-threaded end thereof. As shown more clearly in Figures land 5, spaced bearing blocks 23 of insulating material are secured to the inner faces of the insulating plate 19 for supporting the fuse 24 that is of the cartridge type, the opposite ends 24: of the cartridge fuse being connected with the circuit fuse. within the cartridge. The cartridge fuse is removably supported on the bearing blocks 23 by the hook staple 25 having the hook end thereof overlying the fuse with the threaded end of the staple passing through the insulating plate 19 to receive the thumb nuts 26. An angle limit strip 23 is secured to the insulation plate 19 beneath the bearing blocks 23 at one side of the plate 19 and is slotted at its angle end as at 23 to accommodate the projecting blade of a cartridge fuse having a blade terminal. The angle end of the strip also acts as a limit stop and positioning device for a cartridge fuse.

The operation of the device will be readily understood froman inspection of Figures 3 and 4, the switch when in its closed position as illustrated in Figure 3 having the contact ends 2? of the cartridge fuse engaged by the spring fingers of the aligned switch terminals 10 and 11. As shown in Figure 3, the fuse 24 is interposed between the insulating plate 8 rigidly carried by the rear wall of the switch box and the pivotally mounted insulating plate 19 carried by the movable frame. It will besseen that access to the fuses is impossible when the circuit is closed and in order to reach the fuses, the insulating plate 19 must be shifted to the position shown in Figure 4 by operating. the handle 17 and' frame carried thereby that supports the insulating plate 19 and in so doing, the fuse 24 is displaced from the switch terminals 10 and 11 and free handling of the fuses for repair, replacement or the like is readily 'accomplished without subjecting one to injury. With a switch of this character, fire hazards are practically eliminated by reason of the fact that the old type of three-pole switch had twelve contacts whereas the present disclosure has but six contacts, this reduction of contacts lessens the chances of arcs at the contacts. It is also immaterial as to which terminals the lead in wires are connected to as i wrong wiring'will not affect operation of the switch. J

The'same objects are accomplished in the form of the invention shown in Figure 6, wherein a fuse of the screw 'plug type is employed, the insulating plate S carried by the rear wall 1' of the switch box having switch terminals 10 and 11 that are engaged by switch blades 27 carried by the insulating plate 19. The insulating plate 19 is carried by the pivotally mounted frame, the same as illustrated in Figure 1. The switch blades ,8 and 19, it will be understood that the in sulating plate 19 must be moved upon its pivotally mounted supporting frame to gain access to the head of'the fuse and in so doing,

the switch blades 27 are displaced from engagement with the switch terminals 10 and 11.

\Vhile there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood thatminor changes may be made'therein without cleparting from the spirit and scope offthe invention as claimed.

. What I claim as new is I 1. An electric switch comprising a box having a front door, a vertical insulating plate fixed in the back of the box, conductor terminal clips mountedon said plate, a second insulating plate hingedly mounted in the box to swing independently of the door up wardly into and downwardly substantially outof the box through the front of the latter, fuses carried by said secondplate and having contacts engageable with said terminal clips when said second plate is swung -upwardly into the box, and manually operable means to swing said second plate into and out of the box, said second plate being adapted to assume a substantially horizontal position when swung outwardly and downwardly to expose the fuses and to disengage their contracts from the terminal clips.

2. An electric switch comprising a box having a front door, a vertical insulating plate fixed in the back of the box, conductor terminal clips mounted on said plate, a sec- 0nd insulating plate hingedly mounted in the box to swing independently of the door upwardly into and downwardly substantially out of the box through the front of the latter,

having a front door hinged at its lower end' 1 for swinging downwardly 'to open position, a vertical insulating plate fixed in the back of the box, conductor terminal clips mounted on said plate, a second insulating plate hinged at its lower end Within the bottom of the box to swing independently of the door upwardly into and downwardlysubstantially out of the box, fuses carried by said second plate and having contacts engageable with said terminal clips when said second plate is swung upwardly into the box, and manually operable means to swingsaid second plate into and out of the box, said second plate being adapted to assume a substantially horizontal position overlying the door when swung outwardly and downwardly to expose the fuses l5 and disengage their contacts from the terminal clips.

4. In a switch of the character described, the combination with an insulated plate upon which are mounted fuses, and a casing containing terminal contacts for the engagement of said fuses, of an operating lever consisting of a U-shaped bar comprising side arms, a connecting section and a crank arm, said lever being pivotally connected to said casing, and

attached to the insulated plate above its horizontal medial line, whereby the insulated plate may be swung downwardly to a horizontal position outside the casing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

I JEROME R. L. GREEN. 

